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Contemporary Religious
Thought
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Course Description:
A study of the historical development and defining issues of modern and
postmodern theologies.
Course Objectives:
 | to read and be exposed to many of the key theological texts and movements within the modern and postmodern eras. |
| to understand how contemporary religious thought has been and can be used as an interrogative tool for cultural engagement and critique. |
| to understand how contemporary religious thought has been and can be used as tool for political liberation and resistance. |
| to think critically and constructively about the nature of faith and
theology in the contemporary world.
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Textbooks:
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| On Religion: Speeches to
its Cultured Despisers Friedrich Schleiermacher (Cambridge, 1996) |
Karl Barth: Theologian of
Freedom ed. Clifford Green (Fortress, 1991) |
Introducing Liberation
Theology Leonardo Boff (Orbis, 1996) |
Hiding Mark C. Taylor (Chicago, 1997) |
Belief Gianni Vattimo (Stanford, 2000) |
Schedule:
Modern Liberal Theology
Weeks 1-2: Read and discuss Schleiermacher, On Religion
The Neo-Orthodox Critique
Weeks 3-4: Read and discuss Barth, Karl Barth
Week 5: Read and discuss essays from Schleiermacher and Barth:
Beyond the Impasse
Neo-Orthodoxy and Beyond
Week 6-7: Read and discuss essays from Bultmann, Tillich, and Bonhoeffer
Liberation Theology
Weeks 8-9: Read and discuss Boff, Introducing Liberation Theology
Post-modern Theology
Weeks 10-11: Read and discuss Taylor, Hiding
Weeks 12-13: Read and discuss Vattimo, Belief
Grading/Assignments:
| Weekly Reading Reports (worth 50% of final grade): Each student will be assigned on either Tuesdays or Thursdays. On each appointed day, s/he will be asked to give a 5-10 minute report to the class on the assigned reading. The report should indicate an understanding and critical engagement with the text. It should also isolate particular topics or questions for discussion by the rest of the class. Students are encouraged to bring handouts or whatever other outside materials (videos, powerpoint, etc.) they think appropriate. A 1-2 page written report should also be prepared to turn in to the instructor. Students will be graded on how effectively they communicate a critical and constructive engagement with the materials. |
| Papers (worth 50% of final grade): Students will be asked to write two medium length papers (4-6 pages). The first, which will be due at the conclusion of Week 5, will be a critical expository paper comparing and contrasting Schleiermacher and Barth. The second, which will be due at the conclusion of the semester, will be a more constructive paper in which the student discusses what s/he considers to be the two or three most important themes or innovations in contemporary religious thought. |